Arrive alive: Make the choice to drive responsibly

The turkey is cooking, the various dishes and desserts are set out on the table and awaiting the feast, which means it is Thanksgiving! Laughter from family and friends can be heard in millions of homes across America on this particular day. 

It’s one of the most anticipated holidays of the year, and for many, Thanksgiving is a time for celebration. But before anyone can gather around the table for food or fun, we all need to do one basic thing: arrive alive.  
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the day before Thanksgiving, or “Thanksgiving Eve,” has statistically become one of the deadliest days of the year on the roads. 
In the past five years, more than 800 people have been killed in drunk driving crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday period. In 2016, one-third of all traffic fatalities during this time involved crashes related to drunk driving.

One crash related to drunk driving is too many. This year, make the choice to find another way to your destination:

• Call a friend or loved one to pick you up.
• Let someone else drive you home, use a rideshare program or call a taxi.
• Take advantage of public transportation.
• Wait until you are completely sober before getting behind the wheel. It is better to be safe than sorry. 

A grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation will pay for the extra overtime for law enforcement across the state of Kansas this week. Officers will be on the lookout for drivers who are operating a vehicle while under the influence. This year, buckle up, obey the speed limit and drive responsibly. You and your family will be thankful you did.

#KDOTTUESDAYS: Section of U.S. 75 dedicated to fallen hero Eldon K. Miller

KHP Master Trooper Ryan Mosher and his brother Sergeant Darren Mosher of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, unveil a sign dedicating a section of U.S. 75 to their great uncle, Eldon K. Miller who also served as a KHP Officer. 

A major manhunt took place in Overland Park the afternoon of January 19, 1968. The search was on for two suspects who had robbed $13,000 from the Metcalf State Bank, shooting and wounding a local motorcycle officer during their getaway.

The abandoned getaway vehicle was located near an apartment complex in the 8400 block of Newton. Officers formed a perimeter and searched each apartment. As officers entered one of the apartments, shots were fired. Stationed outside, Sergeant Eldon Miller of the Kansas Highway Patrol jumped into a nearby Johnson County Sheriff’s car and began driving to the apartment windows to provide cover for officers pinned down by the shooting. As Miller was moving the car, gunfire erupted from the windows. The bullets struck and immediately killed him.

Sgt. Miller was 48 years old. He served in the United State Air Army Corps from 1942-45, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. Miller had been with the KHP for over 15 years. He was the first member of the Patrol to be killed by gunfire.

Family, friends and citizens gathered Nov. 1 at Yates Center for a sign unveiling ceremony to designate a section of U.S. 75 as the Eldon K. Miller Memorial Highway.

Family, friends and citizens gathered Nov. 1 at Yates Center for a sign unveiling ceremony to designate a section of U.S. 75 as the Eldon K. Miller Memorial Highway. The words of family members and officials recalling Miller’s commitment, enthusiasm and bravery warmed the chilly setting on the courthouse lawn.

According to Colonel Mark Bruce of the KHP, Miller’s family worked tirelessly with legislators to designate the highway. The Eldon K. Miller Memorial Highway is part of the U.S. 75 corridor. It starts at the north city limits of Yates Center, his hometown, and continues north to the Woodson-Coffey county line.

Turkey Day Travel Tips

Family, friends and food are great reasons for anyone to take to the road during the Thanksgiving holiday. Studies show that this is the busiest travel time of the year. In order to make it to the dinner table on time, make sure you are prepared by following these tips:

If your destination is far away, make sure that your vehicle is safe to drive. Have the vehicle’s fluids, windshield wipers and tires inspected prior to hitting the road.

Watch the skies. Bad weather can hit suddenly in parts of the country. Take caution when traveling in inclement weather.

Know where you are going before you leave.  Don’t rely solely on GPS.   Print out maps and directions, GPS service may become intermittent and having a backup is never a bad idea.

Make sure everyone is buckled in safely.

Keep your cell phone charged at all times in case of emergencies. If it is not being used for directions, make sure it is safely tucked away. Distracted driving can ruin your dinner plans.

Have an emergency kit handy. Make sure the contents include:

• Battery powered radio
• Flashlight
• Blankets for everyone in your car
• Jumper cables
• Fire extinguisher
• First aid kit
• Bottled water
• Snacks
• Maps
• Tire repair kit

Don’t drink and drive and know your limits. If you are tired, upset or ill it is not a good idea to drive. Take a break if needed.

Give yourself extra time to make it to your destination. More travelers on the road mean more traffic congestion. Be patient, the winter holidays are right around the corner and no one appreciates a Grinch.

For up-to-date road conditions check out kandrive.org

Traffic Incident Manager saves countless lives through training of first responders

Rusty James, right, received recognition from ITS Heartland earlier this year for his dedicated work training thousands of emergency repsonders with the TIM program in the KC metro area. 

Traffic Incident Response Week, Nov. 13 – 19, was created to raise awareness of the dangers emergency responders are exposed to when they work at a traffic incident.

Rusty James, provides training to law enforcement officials,
emergency responders, and highway workers

Training emergency responders across the nation using the Federal Highway Administration’s Traffic Incident Management (TIM) program creates a coordinated response to clear traffic incidents efficiently with less risk to emergency responders, those involved in crashes and drivers that pass through an incident area.

As part of the Kansas City Scout traffic management center, TIM has been used in the KC metro area for many years. The manager of this effort until recently was Rusty James.

In May, Rusty was recognized by ITS Heartland, a five-state intelligent transportation systems organization, with its President’s Award in appreciation for his dedicated work training thousands of emergency responders.

There is no way to count the number of lives Rusty James saved over his many years of training law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs, tow operators, DOT maintenance workers and other first responders. But there is no doubt the he is responsible for many people going home after an incident because of the training he provided. Thank you Rusty!

Wichita Metro area improves in incident response times

Part of Traffic Incident Response Week (Nov. 13 – 19) is looking at programs that are promoting a shared understanding of the requirements for quick incident clearance and best-practice safeguards for emergency responders and motorists.

In the Wichita metro area, over 1,000 emergency responders have received Traffic Incident Management (TIM) training. After an incident when two responders were struck by a vehicle at a scene in 2013, the entire Wichita Fire Department shared the program with their firefighters.

On Wichita’s highways, between 2013 and 2015, when TIM training began yielding results, traffic incident clearance times decreased by two hours. Average clearance times on highway incidents went from 150 minutes to just 34 minutes.

“TIM training showed emergency responders with different responsibilities why each  organization was doing what they were doing and how all of these roles could work together at a traffic scene,” said Kansas Highway Patrol Lieutenant Roger Baughman.

As a follow-up activity, law enforcement agencies, fire departments, EMTs, tow operators, 911 emergency communicators, WICHway traffic management center staff and other first responders meet bi-monthly to discuss recent traffic incidents, critiquing the clearance procedures and taking ideas for better scene clearance back to their organization.

Learn more about the national effort to reduce deaths and injuries to America’s emergency responders at www.respondersafety.com.

And visit the WICHway website (www.WICHway.org) to view Wichita’s highway cameras, message boards, traffic flow and road conditions during winter weather.

#MoveOverKS Encourages drivers to be cautious of road workers

Flashing lights, sirens, orange cones and neon vests should all tell you one thing: Move over and give emergency response crews, law enforcement and highway workers room to work.

The Federal Highway Administration has declared Nov. 13 to 19 Traffic Incident Response Week. During this week and throughout the entire year, KDOT would like to remind drivers that all road workers should be respected and protected. Whether they are emergency responders at a traffic emergency, KDOT or county workers performing maintenance on the roads or a law enforcement professional performing a traffic stop, these workers need space to do their jobs and stay safe.


KDOT has initiated a campaign called #MoveOverKS, which is designed remind drivers on all roadways to give roadside workers space to do their jobs and perform their service. In order to convey the message, images were taken of KDOT highway workers reminding everyone who sees them why they need all drivers to #moveover and give them space. The images are available across KDOT’s social media pages including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Steve Baalman, a KDOT Engineer in Topeka, said that the use of cell phones makes it noticeably scarier to work along highways.

“We too often see folks with their faces buried in their cell phones,” Baalman said. “Obviously with the texting, it’s very spooky for us.”

Baalman said that despite the risks, working along the highways is worth it. 

“I presume most folks are like me,” Baalman said. “We like the work, the service and the sense of accomplishment. It makes it worthwhile for those folks who are driving it every day.”

Kansas enacted the Move Over Law in 2006, requiring that drivers move over when approaching workers on the side of the road and if traffic doesn’t allow for that, to at least slow down. Follow the #MoveOverKS campaign and see why KDOT employees are asking you to move over.

Watch for responders at traffic incidents: lives depend on it

Every minute of every day, emergency responders across the country work to help save lives at the scene of traffic incidents. But every year hundreds of emergency responders representing fire, law enforcement, emergency medical services, towing and transportation agencies are struck and either injured or killed while responding.

To raise awareness of the dangers these emergency responders are exposed to and to remind drivers of their obligation to use caution when approaching a traffic incident, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has declared Nov. 13 – 19 as Traffic Incident Response Week.

In 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported a 7.2 percent increase in roadway fatalities over 2014. In 2016, another 6 percent jump was reported. Emergency responders work at each one of these scenes and unfortunately, are sometimes victims of secondary crashes caused by inattentive drivers.

KDOT, the Kansas Highway Patrol and partner agencies across Kansas remind drivers to move over for any emergency or maintenance vehicle with flashing lights.

The Kansas Move Over law requires drivers on four-lane roads or highways to move over when passing emergency vehicles. On two-lane roads, drivers should slow down and proceed with caution. 

To help emergency responders in Kansas, a FHWA Traffic Incident Management multi-disciplinary training course is presented to promote a shared understanding of the requirements for quick incident clearance and best-practice safeguards for responders and motorists. More than 3,000 emergency responders in Kansas have received the training.

Motorists are encouraged to always slow down, move over and give emergency responders room to work when approaching a traffic incident.